Railway-car-truck spring



June 17, 1930. c. HANKINS RAILWAY CAR TRUCK SPRING 2 SheetsSheec Filed June 20, 1925 gwuento'o June 17, 1930. c. HANKINS RAILWAY GAR TRUCK SPRING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 20, 1925 patented June 1 7, 1930 {UNITED STATES PATENT! OFFICER,

CYRUS HANKINS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO T. H. SYMINGTON AND SON, INC., OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION A 4 OF MARYLAND RAILWAY-CAR-TRIICK SPRING Application filed June 20,

The invention relates to spring devices for railway car trucks.

The principal object of the invention, generally stated, is to provide a spring device for use in connection with railway cartrucks and embodying a sectional casing or housing within which is enclosed cushioning means, the sections being connected to permit relative movement under compression.

The object of the invention, more specifically stated, is to provide a spring device or structure adapted to be mounted within the window openingof a railway car truck, the device including casing sections serving to house and confine cushioning means, the sections being connected to permit relative movement under compression, the connecting means for this purpose also acting to limit separating movement of the sections and to maintain the cushioning means under initial compression.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure of this character in which the cushioning means preferably consists of elongated concentric plate or leaf springs confined between the casing sections, the springs being arranged in sets, and the sets being preferably separated.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device or structure of this character in which the casing sections are formed to have an interfitting relation, each having portions slidably engaging portions of the other whereby relative movement will be restricted to the vertical and displacement in all planes at an angle to the vertical positively prevented. a

An additonal object of the invention is to provide a spring device in which the casing sections are complementarily arranged, the two sections being identical and being simply arranged in reversed relation, the sections moreover having interfitting portions which are so extended with respect to the springs as to constitute retaining means therefor so that the plates will be held against displacement without any necessity for the employment of additional or auxiliary retaining means.

Yet another object is to provide a device 1925. Serial No. 38,547.

of this character in which means is provided whereby the initial compression of the springs may be varied.

A further object of the invention is to providea spring device in which the casing sections are formed internally with means defining separate. pockets for the reception of the respective sets of springs whereby those of one set will be prevented from having contact with those of the other or another set.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects and advantages, such as will insure efficiency and durability, the invention may consist in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a railway car truck equipped with the spring device,

Figure 2 is aplan view of one-section of the casing or housing,

Figure 3 is a side elevation thereof, and

Figure 4 is an end view.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the numeral 1 designates, generally, a truck side frame having. the usual window opening 2 within which is located the cushioning or spring device designated generally by the numeral 3, this device being interposed between the bolster 4 and the spring seat 5. V

In carrying out the invention, the cushioning device 3 preferably consists of upper and lower pans or casingsections 6 of similar constructioncapable of being formed as stampings or castings, as preferred. These pans have side fiangesanol end flanges 7 and 8 respectively. The flanges of one pan or section extend toward those of the other and are represented as being complementary thereto; In actual practice'the pans may be considered to be identical, one being simply reversed or inverted with respect to the other, a feature of importance from a manufacturing standpoint inasmuch as it is necessary to provide only one type. The sections are also preferablvformed centrally with longitudinally extending partition'webs 9 which define spaced pockets or compartments 10 within which are disposed the cushioning members here represented as sets of elongated concentric leaf springs 11 arranged in groups with those in successive groups oppositely curved. The disclosure as to these specific springs is merely illustrative as any equivalent alternative arrangement may be provided within the spirit of the invention. In the present instance I have shown two spring receiving pockets and, of course, two sets of springs, though it should be understood that the number may be more or less, as desired. Clearly, the sets will be spaced apart by the partition web and consequently prevented from contacting. 7

To insure an inter-fitting relation of the pans or casing sections the side flanges 7 thereof are dentated or formed with alternate elongated downwardly projecting portions 12 and corresponding openings 13. The end flanges 8 are likewise dentated or of irregular formation and have projecting portions 14 and 15. The edges of the projections 12 and openings 13 are preferably inclined and parallel and the edges of the projections 14 and 15 are also inclined, the

edges of these elements on one pan or casing section being parallel with those on the other. The projections 12 of each section are located within the openings 13 of the other with the edges in spaced relation to permit the two sections to move toward each other to a considerable extent without interference. The projections 12 on the side flanges and the projections 14 and 15 on the end flanges are of such length and formation that the springs 11 will be engaged at various points by different ones of these elements and be consequently retained in place and prevented from movement in any plane at an angle to the vertical.

For preventing any displacement of the casing sections with respect to each other, the side flanges are preferably formed with horizontally extending guide portions 16 which traverse the openings 13 and which are'of a strap-like nature and outwardly offset as clearly shown in Figure 2 so as to receive and confine the projections 12, the location of these guides being such that at notime can the projections 12 become disengaged therefrom.

Each partition web 9 is dentated or of irregular formation inasmuch as it has a projecting portion 17 and a cut away portion 18. When the two casing sections are assembled the projecting portion 17 of each web is received within the cut away portion 18 of the other. The edges are inclined, parallel and spaced apart, the arrangement being the equivalent of the relation of the projections 12 to the openings 13 of the side flanges 7.

For additionally maintaining the sections in proper relation, guiding them during relative movement in a vertical direction and also maintaining them initially in a certain fixed relation with the springs under a certain degree of compression, the pans or casing sections are preferably formed or provided with outwardly or laterally extending apertured ears or lugs 19 through which pass bolts 20 carrying nuts 21. By adjust= ing the nuts it is evident that the relative positions of the pans may be varied and that the compression of the springs may be made more or less, depending on circumstances. The exact points of location of these cars or lugs is a matter of minor importance though in the present instance they are illustrated as carried by the flanges 7 to avoid interference with the walls of the window opening in the truck frame.

In the operation it will be seen that the casing sections may move towardor from each other but only in a vertical direction,

the engagement with the walls of the window opening preventing relative longitudinal displacement and the engagement of the projections 12 within the guides 16 preventing lateral displacement. Owing to the peculiar irregular formation of the side flanges 7 and end flanges 8 and the interfitting relation of the projections 12 together with the length thereof which is such that-all of the individual springs are engaged thereby, it is obvious that the springs cannot become displaced but are retained always in their proper operative positions within their pockets or compartments.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will be apparent that I have thus provided a simply constructed and easily assembled and installed spring device capable of use in connection with already existing truck frames without involving any changes or alterations therein or additions thereto. It is likewise evident that the device will function efficiently to provide the necessary and desirable resilience and that the construction, arrangement and combination of parts is such that durability will be assured.

WVhile I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that I reserve the right to make all such changes and modifications in the details as will widen the field of utility and increase the adaptability of the device, provided such variations constitute no departure from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Having thus described the invention, I claim: I

1. In a railway truck spring device, casing sections having flanges, cushioning means located between the sections, means connecting the sections at each corner thereof and located outwardly of the flanges for maintaining the springs under initial compression, and means for adjusting said lastnamed means for varying the degree of compression.

2. In a railway truck spring device, peripherally flanged casing sections arranged in vertically superposed relation and formed to provide laterally spaced pocket-s, cushioning means located within the respective pockets, and means guidably connecting the sections outwardly of the flanges and adjustable to vary the relative positions of the sections.

3. In a railway truck spring device, similar upper and lower flanged casing section-s,

cushioning means located between the sections, each section having its flanges formed with guides and projecting portions, the projecting portions of each being slidably re ceived within the guides of the other.

4. In a railway truck spring mechanism, vertically spaced counterpart casing sections having marginal flanges, cushioning means therein, and adjustable tie means connecting the sections for varying the compression of the cushioning means and for limiting separation of the casing sections, said tie means being located outwardly of the flanges of the casing sections at all the corners thereof.

5. In a railway truck spring device, vertically spaced casing sections having marginal flanges extending toward each other, the flanges being formed with alternating cut away portions and elongated projections, the projections of each fitting within the cut away portions of the other, and guide members extending across the cut away portions and receiving and confining the projections for preventing relative lateral movement thereof.

6. In a railway truck spring device, vertically spaced casing sections having flanges extending toward each other, the flanges being formed with alternating cut away portions and elongated projections, the projecti ons of each fitting within the cut away portions of the other,guide members extending across the cut away portions and receiving and confining the projections for preventing relative lateral movement thereof, and a plurality of leaf springs confined between the sections, said projections extending past the edges of all of the springs for preventing displacement thereof.

7. In a railway truck spring device, vertically spaced casing sections having flanges extending toward each other, the flanges being formed with alternating cut away portions and elongated projections, the projections of each fitting within the cut away portions of the other, and guide members extending across the cut away portions and receiving and confining the projections for preventing relative lateral movement thereof, the sections being provided with partition webs having alternating projections and 8. In a railway cut-away portions, said partition webs defining compartmentsr'for thereception of cushlonlng means. I

truck spring device, vertically spaced casing sections having flanges and partition webs defining compartments, cushioning means located within the compartments, the flanges and the webs being formednwith projections and cut away .portions, the sections being similar and arranged in reversed relation with respect to each other with the projections of each received within the cut away portions of the ot er.

9. In a railway truck spring device, vertically spaced casing sections having flanges and partition webs defining compartments, cushioning means located Within the compartments, the flanges and the webs being formed with projections and cut away portions, the sections being similar and arranged in reversed relation with respect to each other with the projections of each received within the cut away portions of the other, and means guidably connecting the sections for limiting separation thereof and maintaining the cushioning means under initial compression.

10. In a railway truck spring structure, upper and lower casing sections, cushioning means located between the sections, the sections having dentated portions and outstruck guides, the guides on each receiving the dentated portions of the other.

11. In a railway truck spring structure, upper and lower spaced casing sections, cushioning means located between the sections, the sections having interfitting dentated portions and each having outstruck guides projecting beyond outwardly and transversely with respect to the projecting dentated portions of the other.

12. A railway truck spring structure comprising a pair of spaced casing sections, groups of plate springs located between the sections, and adjustable means slidably connecting the sections, the sections being formed with interfitting portions engageable by the edges of the plate springs for preventing displacement thereof.

13. A railway truck spring structure comprising a pair of spaced casing sections, cushioning means located within the sections, each sectionvhaving spring retaining portions thereon and each having guides receiving the retaining portions of the other.

14:. In a railway truck spring structure, spaced casing sections, cushioning means located between the sections, retaining portions on each section for preventing displacement of the cushioning means, and guide means on each section slidably receiving the retaining portions of the other,

15. In a railway truck spring structure, spaced casing sections, cushioning means located between the sections, retaining por-' tions on. each section for preventing displacement of the cushioning means,eguide means on each section .slidably receiving the retaining portions of the other, and means other than said retaining and guide means for connecting the sections and limiting separating movement thereof.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

' CYRUS HANKINS. 

